Joan Weakland
428 Hawthorne Avenue
Ames, IA 50014
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
H:
C:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
On May 13, 2026, at 6:56 PM, Cha, Kelly <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi Ms. Weakland,
We have the Planning and Transportation Commission hearing tonight, and we will be presenting the new draft ordinance to the Commission. If you haven't already, you can review the staff report packet, which includes the draft ordinance as well as other attachments along with the staff report, from the PTC hearing agenda here. If you have any specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thanks,
Kelly Cha (she/her)
Senior Planner
Planning and Development Services
(650) 329-2155 | [email protected]
www.PaloAlto.gov
From: Joan Weakland
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 4:21 PM
To: Allen Akin <[email protected]>
Cc: Lewis F. Weakland < >; Armer, Jennifer <[email protected]>; Cha, Kelly <[email protected]>; Jean-Philippe Emelie Marcos < >; Alan W. Weakland < >
Subject: Re: Proposed 150-Foot Stream Setback West of Foothill Expressway CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.
Hi Mr. Akin,
Thank you very much for your prompt reply. Our rear property, 4243 Manuela Court, is one of two undeveloped lots among the 39 affected properties, such that the proposed ordinance would have an outsized impact, even on a one acre parcel, forcing any future use to be quite close to the street and the adjacent lot, 4245 Manuela Court.
A 150’ stream setback would enormously impact the value and buildability of #4243 — likely decreasing its value by at least 70%.
When you consider that "the stream” we are trying to protect is dry virtually all year, has been altered by the City for storm drainage, and is only briefly fluid after a heavy seasonal rain, it is clear that the proposed ordinance for the Esther Clark park neighborhood should be significantly altered to a setback similar to other non-rural neighborhoods of 20-25’.
Thank you —
Regards,
Joan Weakland
Joan Weakland
C:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
On Feb 6, 2026, at 7:22 PM, Allen Akin <[email protected]> wrote:
On Fri, Feb 06, 2026 at 03:51:53PM -0600, Joan Weakland wrote:
| I read through the summary of the August 27, 2025 minutes that you kindly provided, but I do not understand option (2) that you mentioned; ie, if the Esther Clark Park area were to be re-classified as “urbanized” like the area ranging from Foothill Expressway toward the 101, what setback regulations would apply there? Hi, Ms. Weakland!
The proposed ordinance we reviewed last August called for a 30' setback in the urbanized area.
That's not as straightforward as it sounds, because certain projects were still allowed in the setback so long as they were outside the slope-stability protection area -- interior modifications, retaining walls, minor earthworks, and ADUs, among other things.
Ms. Cha (copied on this reply) can give you a more authoritative answer. The proposal might have changed since the last version the PTC reviewed, so my understanding may be out-of-date, and of course nothing has been approved yet.
Best,
Allen Akin
Corridor Protection Ordinance and its potential impact until later. When I became the PAN representative for Esther Clark Park in late 2025 I found only 2 residents besides myself. The small postcards that were sent out were not adequate and many residents don't remember receiving one.
6. The PTC voted unanimously to accept Alternative #4 on May 13th, 2026. SCPO has been examined and discussed several times. I strongly recommend that you follow their recommendation.
I'll be at the October 19th meeting and will encourage affected property owners to attend.
Thank you, Ellen Shay